Ofsted Expectations

In the Ofsted Briefing for Inspectors on Safeguarding Publication it states that Inspectors take into account the extent to which the school takes reasonable steps to ensure that pupils are safe on the school site, for example by monitoring visitors contractors or volunteers or those using the premises during school time.

Whilst this statement is open to interpretation by an inspector, in a health and safety context ‘reasonable’ means taking into account costs, sacrifice, resources etc. against any potential risk and recognising that there is a balance between community access, the undesirable ‘fortress school’ and safeguarding. Schools may wish to consider the following steps to meet this requirement